Axle



Aug. 17 1926. 1,596,544

' v A. L.. KROESEN AXLE ' Filed Jan. 22. 1925 scribedin the Torbensen Patent No.V

' will -be reinforced at the center.

Patented Aug. ,17, 1926.

` vumfrnu STATES PATENT orrlcr..

ARTHUR L. Knonsnn, or CLEVELAND, oHIo, AssIGNon 'ro THE VfG-Ton AXLncoM- PANY, OF CLEVELAND, O-IO, A GORPORATIONy Fr OHIO.

.AXLE.

Application filed January 22., 1925. Serial No. 3,949.

This invention relatesto axle housings for motor vehicles and more particularly to certain improvements in the type of housing de- 1,485,443, granted March 4, 1924.

It. is onev of the objects of this invention to: improve the construction ofthe type of housing illustrated in Patent No. 1,485,443 so as to provide a stronger housing that may be more economically manufactured and that It is the purpose o-f this invention to lower the cost of manufacture by reducing the amount of i raw material requiredV andY by simplifying the design of the inserted upper half of the center so as kto have straight edges te be Welded, thereby simplifying the Welding operati-ons and producing a smoother and better product.

Other objects of the invention and the features of novelty will be apparent from the following descripton taken in connection With the accompanying drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a length of tubing from which the housing is made, a portion of the figur-e being in section;

Figure 2is an end view thereof; Y

Figf' is'y an elevation, partly in section, of the turbe shown in Fig. 1 after the end portions'have been swaged to reduce their diameter and to shape these ends to the finished forni; -Y

Fig. 4 is an end vievv of the tube shown in Fig. 3f; Y v

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the tube shown in Fig. -8 after the operation of cutting away a portion of the center;

Fig. 6 is an elevation from a plane at right angles to Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6; A

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 after the next operation of spreading certain parts of the central portion of the tube;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but show-l ing the form of the housing after the next operation in Which Athe central portion is pressed into its final shape;

Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the blank from which the part shown in Fig. 12 is formed;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the inserted piece which forms the upper half of the central portion of the housing;

Fig. 13 is an endview thereof, with certain' parts shown in section; p f Fig.`14 is a side elevation of the completedhousing, With certain parts shown inv section; Y

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectionV on the linev 15-15 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. .16 is a section on the line 16--16 of Fig. 14.

' Referring to the drawings 10 indicates a length of tubingI from which the major por-- tion of the housing is formed, this tubing being preferably seamless and, in order to give stiffness'and strength toA the housing, may be made of 2O? Ov4 carbon steel. the first voperation the end portions yof the tube 10 arey suaged to provide the tapered sections 11 and the cylindrical end sections 12 that are ofy smaller diameter than.v the original tube and conform, in size, to the f finished housing.

vBy the next loperation a portion of the central secticn of the tube iscut away asshor-.f'n in Figs. 5 and 6. rhis operation may be performed by a gas cutting-torch or vin any other suitable manner. By this opera* tion thereA are'f-ornied the pointed parts 13 along the longitudinal edges of the cut and these pointed parts are then straightened out, preferably bydies, as shown in Fig. 8. The

ext operation consists in forming the central portion 14, as shown in Fig. 9, this beingdone in a suitable forming press',` by means of dies. The' housing, as it appears in Fig. 9, consists of the tubular end portions and the central portion 14 which is integral therewith and which constitutes substantially one-half yof the enlarged center of theY housing, the inner ends of the tubular portions being semi-circular as indicated at 15 and the upper edges 16, of the .portion 14, beidng in the plane of the axis ofthe tubular en s.

A blank 17 is punched from ay sheet, the thickness of which is the same as the tube 10, and this blank is then formed into the shape illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13, by means of a forming press. The piece thus formed is substantially a duplicate of the portion 14, which constitutes one-half of the enlarged center of the housing, and has straight edges 18, that are adapted to abut the edges 16, and semi-circular ends 19, that are adapted to .abut against the edges 15, when this piece is placed in position in the housing, as it appears in Fig. 9. '.he abutting' edges 15 and 19 and 16 and 18 are'then welded together by means ot an oxyacetylene torch or by the electric are-welding method.V .fr channel shaped ring is inserted inthe central portion of the housing, before the parts are assembled, as shown in 141-, and the vthinges 21 of this ring are then spotfwelded to the adjacent `flanges 22,'

The 95 ot the enlarged center ot the housing and the ia-ees 2G, thereon, may then be machined to receive the parts which are to be ultimately assembled with the housing.

The formation of the housing, as above described, with the edges 16 in the plane of' the axis, results in simplifying the operation of welding-iii the inserted upper halt oi the center and also reduces the size orn the blank :trom which this inserted piece is formed, thereby reducing the amount of raw material. required and utilizing more of the original tube 10, than was possible with the construction illustrated in Patent 1,485,443. The ring 2O serves to substantially reinforce the central portion of the housing which, in practice, is subjected to thel most severe strains and, in this manner, a much stronger housing` is provided.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim is:

1.V An axle housing having seamless tubular end portions and an enlarged middle portion substantially one-half of which is integral with said end portions, the other half of the enlarged middle being a duplicate of the first-mentioned half and said halves having abutting edges ina plane through the axis ot said tubular ends, and said edges being welded together.

2. 2in axle housing having seamless tubular end portions and an enlarged middle portion, the inner ends of said tubular por tions having semi-circular edges in planes Anormal to the axis ot' the tubular portions haltl oil said middle portion consisting of' anl inserted piece that is welded to the rst-men4 tioiied halt and to said end portions, and a one-piece reinforcing ring of Channel crosssection fitted between said halves and the flanges of which are welded to abutting sur-.

'faces o't both oit said halves.

An aide housing having seamless tubular end portions and an enlarged middle'portion, the upper and lower part-s of the latter being of arcuate form and the lower half oi" said middle portion being integralwith said tubular ends and the upper half consiste ing ot' an inserted piece that is welded to said lower half and to said end portions, and a one-piece reinforcing ring arranged between said halves and fitting the interior of said arcuate parts, said ring being of channel cross-section and having its flanges welded to abutting surfaces oit both of said halves.

ln testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

ARTHUR L. KROESEN. 

